DOT plans to move from East Hall location to Gainesville – Gainesville Times

The Georgia Department of Transportations district office could have a new address by January.

The agency is planning to lease part of a new three-story office building under construction off Jesse Jewell Parkway, next to North Georgia Eye, in Gainesville.

Our (current) building is very outdated, DOT district spokeswoman Katie Strickland said.

To renovate would be very expensive and not practical. This move will allow GDOT to lease the space, not wait to build a new building.

District staff now works out of a 55-year-old building off Athens Highway/U.S. 129 and Gillsville Highway/Ga. 323 in East Hall. The building is likely a familiar sight for motorists, with its dated architecture and rusting metal awning covering the windows.

Probably the last time we did any maintenance work on the building was 1963, District Engineer Brent Cook said jokingly during a transportation forum in March at the University of North Georgias Gainesville campus.

Its in pretty rough shape. Were excited about (the move).

While officials will be clearing out of the building, we will not be taking everything, as we will still have our maintenance equipment/large equipment that will remain on the premises, Strickland said.

The new building will be 67,500 square feet in size and very similar to the adjacent medical office building, said Matt Tate, Gainesvilles planning manager.

Its anticipated completion is June 1, he said.

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DOT plans to move from East Hall location to Gainesville - Gainesville Times